Wyre Council is reminding all residents who vote by post that changes in electoral law now require postal voters to reapply every three years to maintain their postal vote.
Under the new legislation, any postal vote granted before 31 October 2023 will expire on 31 January 2026. This change affects approximately 18,700 postal voters in Wyre, all of whom must reapply if they wish to continue voting by post beyond that date.
Although the deadline may seem distant, Wyre Council is encouraging residents to act now to ensure your postal vote is in place when needed.
Affected voters will be contacted via email with a link to reapply online or by letter with instructions.
Rebecca Huddleston, Chief Executive of Wyre Council said: “All electors who applied for a postal vote before 31 October 2023 will need to reapply to continue voting by post beyond 31 January 2026. This change affects approximately 18,700 postal voters in Wyre.
“We understand that this may be an inconvenience for some, but it’s essential to ensure the integrity and accuracy of our electoral processes. I strongly encourage everyone affected to reapply as soon as possible to ensure your postal vote remains in place beyond 31 January 2026.”
How to reapply
The quickest and easiest way to reapply is online at: www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
Applicants will need to provide:
- full name and address
- date of birth
- national Insurance number
- signature
Your identity will be verified against records held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If verification fails, you may be asked to provide additional ID.
What happens if you don’t reapply?
If you do not reapply by 31 January 2026, your postal vote will be automatically cancelled on 1 February 2026. You will still be able to:
- reapply for a postal vote after that date, or
- vote in person at your polling station, or
- appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf
More information can be found online
If you have any questions contact Wyre Council’s Electoral Services team by emailing electoral.services@wyre.gov.uk, calling 01253 891000 or writing to Electoral Services, Wyre Council, Civic Centre, Breck Road, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7PU.